The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says no fewer than 32,402 drug users were counselled and treated from January 2021 to March 2024 across the country.

The NDLEA chairman, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa said this when he received the executive director of the Vanguard Against Drug Abuse (VGADA) Detox Centre, Hope Omeiza, and his team on Friday in Abuja.

VGADA Detox Centre, a rehabilitation centre in Abuja, is a leading provider of addiction treatment and recovery services in Nigeria.

Mr Marwa, represented by NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi, said the agency had also secured 9,034 convictions, with over 12,000 other cases going on in court.

Mr Marwa said there had been misconceptions about the agency’s roles regarding drug demand reduction.

“I like to put it on record that, indeed, the agency has two key roles, namely, drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction.

“And when you look at what we have done in the area of demand reduction, I can even almost say it far outweighs or surpasses what we have done in drug supply reduction.

“But because the supply reduction has to do with arrest, seizures, prosecution of offenders and their convictions, sending them to jail, and confiscation of their assets and other funds in their bank account through court order, quite a lot of people believe that’s all we do.

“But indeed, beyond that, let me put it this way; maybe to be very clear, if you look at the last three years, the agency has counselled and treated over 32,000 people in our facilities nationwide,” Mr Marwa explained.

He said that out of the 32,000, the agency secured 9,034 convictions, with over 12,000 other cases going on in court.

Mr Marwa said one of the things the agency did to reduce drug demand was to raise awareness about the problem of substance abuse.

He added that the frequent awareness led to the creation of a social advocacy platform on June 26, 2021, at the presidential villa.

“The platform is called War Against Drug Abuse (WADA), a social advocacy platform to raise awareness nationwide about substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking,” said Mr Marwa.

According to him, it is also to mobilise everybody, including stakeholders and all citizens, irrespective of age and status, to buy in and take ownership of the fight against substance abuse.

Earlier, Mr Omeiza said the VGADA Detox Centre remained committed to inculcating in youths the need to be aware of harmful practices within their environment and society.

(NAN)